What is starka? Tincture PC Kristall-Lefortovo Stark - “A good tincture, but lately it’s rare to come across.” How to make starka from moonshine

Fans of bitters are undoubtedly familiar with the name “starka”. And those who have not yet tasted its taste should catch up; the ancient tincture rightfully deserves it. She is mentioned in their works by Kuprin, Bulgakov and Venedikt Erofeev, and in very laudatory terms. Starka tincture is a cross between vodka and wine, light brown in color, ideally has a slightly pungent taste with notes of rye and a complex aroma. This drink is a bit like cognac in color and taste. It can also be called the Slavic analogue of whiskey due to its place of origin. Let's get to know this original vodka better, using the text for now.

History of the drink

The very word “starka” reminds us that this is something ancient, aged. The Russian ear is familiar and familiar with this sound. Indeed, the word refers us to the method of production of the liqueur - it is rye vodka, aged in oak barrels to soften and enrich the taste. In one of the Slavic languages, starka is a woman losing her youth. However, over the years, tinctures only get better, which, alas, cannot always be said about the fair sex.

The drink originates in the 15th century. The recipe for this tincture survived the state in which it was invented and began to be produced - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which included modern Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and western Russia. It was here that strong moonshine arose from rye wort, double distilled and then aged in oak barrels with the addition of apple and pear leaves. The barrels had to be taken not new, but previously used for storing wine or port - this method makes the taste of the tincture softer, richer, richer.

There is a legend that on the master's farms the barrel with the future stark was not unsealed until the heir, on whose birthday this same barrel was filled, got married. For greater reliability, the container with the tincture was buried in the ground. But in any case, the starka had to have an aging period of at least 10 years, and preferably more, for example, 50.

Bitters gained particular popularity in the 19th century, when alcohol based on cheap alcohol came into widespread use. Compared to these unpretentious drinks, which, among other things, gave a severe hangover, the exquisite tincture amazed with its deep nuances of taste and softness. Common people could not afford to use it. It was all the more pleasant for the privileged segments of the population to enjoy the aroma and tartness of the tincture, who savored the taste of starka with pleasure. In those days, it was produced by the Bachevsky company in Lviv and private distilleries in Lithuania.

Modern starka is manufactured by the Polish company Polmos Szczecin. Its production began with pouring in 1947, and sales - in 1955. In Russia, analogues of the famous tincture are produced by the Federal State Enterprise Soyuzplodoimport (SPI), the Moscow plant Kristall. Interestingly, the domestic tincture from Soyuzplodoimport began to be produced earlier than the Polish one - in 1931, and in 1958 it received a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition in Brussels. Russian vodka called “Starka” officially has a strength of 40 degrees, although experts say that a true bitters must contain 43% alcohol.

Recipe

How is real starka prepared? The rye wort is double distilled in the still. The resulting rye moonshine is aged in cellars at a temperature of 12 degrees for 10–50 years. Moreover, oak barrels of wine or port should be used for aging, and the special taste of the tincture is given by the addition of pear and apple leaves, sometimes linden blossom and other ingredients. If the technology is followed, the result is an excellent soft vodka, with a pleasant bitterness and aroma, without the aftertaste of fusel oils or the smell of alcohol.

Soyuzplodoimport describes its starka as a legendary tincture, which is based on grain alcohol, drinking water, port wine, cognac, a little sugar, infusion on the leaves of Rosemary apple trees and Alexander Bera pears. The Kristall plant admits that it adds vanilla flavoring and natural sugar coloring to its vodka recipe. Based on this information, as well as the surviving information about the original starka, you can prepare your own variation of the tincture at home.

The method of infusing the distillate in an oak barrel, unfortunately, is not available to everyone. However, lovers of homemade alcohol reproduce the taste of starka using a simplified version of preparation, which is also good because such a tincture can be put on the table not in 10 years, but in 10–15 days. The drink according to this recipe can be stored for up to 5 years.

Ingredients for 1 liter of vodka:

Oak bark or pegs – 20 g;
Apple and pear leaves - 20 g each;
Dry linden blossom – 0.5 teaspoon;
Sugar – 1 teaspoon;
A third of a lemon is for zesting;
Ground coffee – 0.3 teaspoon;
Grated nutmeg - on the tip of a knife;
Vanilla sugar - on the tip of a knife.

Cooking process

Let's prepare oak bark, purchased at a pharmacy or from private sellers. Pour boiling water over it for 15 minutes, then drain the liquid and rinse the workpiece well with cool water. This stage is needed in order to get rid of excess tannins, which roughen the taste of the finished tincture. If oak chips from a specialized store for distilling were chosen for the production of stark, then we work with them according to the instructions specified by the manufacturer.
Remove the fresh zest from the lemon after washing it well in hot water. We need a thin yellow crust, we try not to capture the bitter white peel.
Take a clean jar of suitable volume and pour all the ingredients into it. Add vodka, stir, and close the lid tightly.
In the absence of a basement, we store the future starka at room temperature, but choose a dark and dry place for it. Keep the tincture under these conditions for 1–2 weeks.
After 5 days, you can try the composition and smell it, developing your receptors and tasting abilities. Did you manage to capture the special cognac taste and pleasant smell? Then filter the drink using gauze and cotton wool. If the concentration of the substances is not satisfactory, then we leave the starka to infuse further, testing it once a day. But it is not recommended to over-mix the drink; oak bark can add an excessive taste to the vodka, which will overwhelm the other ingredients.
If desired, add a little more sugar to make the infusion more pleasant and sweet.
The last stage is to pour the almost finished starka into bottles with an airtight lid and leave for 3 or 4 days in a cool place (for example, a refrigerator or on a balcony in the off-season). After this period, homemade starka with a strength of 33–36 degrees is ready!

But what about drinking starka? Venechka Erofeev could not ignore this legendary vodka in his alcoholic ode “Moscow-Petushki” and called for drinking a large glass every half hour, “avoiding any snacks if possible.” Whether to follow this advice, decide for yourself, taking into account the situation and without overestimating your capabilities. Enjoy your tasting!

The territories of Lithuania, Poland, and a little later Belarus. It is generally accepted that the nobility of that time indulged themselves with this alcohol on special occasions - the birth of a child, a long-awaited victory, the conclusion of profitable contracts. The drink itself is very similar in production technology to whiskey, and that is why its second (unofficial) name is “Soviet whiskey”. So the starka was doomed after it had gained popularity in the USSR.

The drink has a rather unique taste, and its ripening can take decades. Using traditional technology, the rye wort was distilled twice, poured into strong oak barrels and stored in cool cellars for at least 10 years. In some cases, the container was even buried in the ground. The drink acquired an unusual hue, taste and aroma due to the presence of apple and pear leaves, a mixture of herbs and spices.

Strong and aromatic alcohol is mentioned in many works of art and songs. For example, the characters M.A. Bulgakov or V.S. Vysotsky, after drinking the starki, simply did not remember what happened to them on the eve of the libation.

Today, starka (bitters) can easily be prepared at home, however, few moonshiners wait until the drink is fully matured. The recipe for aromatic strong alcohol has changed a lot over several centuries, but if you follow the recommendations, you can make a similar tincture.

Starka recipes

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At the moment, several modified methods for preparing herbal bitters are known. Study our recipes and try to create the legendary alcohol with your own hands.

Recipe No. 1. A simple drink option

To make starka using this method, you will need the following ingredients:

moonshine or vodka – 3 l.;
sugar – 2 tsp;
lemon – 1 pc.;
oak bark - 2–3 tbsp. l.;
ground nutmeg – ½ tsp;
vanillin - on the tip of a knife;
ground coffee beans – 1 tsp.

Read also: About the use of bee dead tinctures

The lemon is cut into small cubes, placed in a glass container, the remaining ingredients are added and poured with alcohol. The future starka should be infused for at least one and a half weeks in a dark, cool place. After this, the drink is passed through a layer of cotton wool several times and distributed into bottles for long-term storage.

Lovers of sweeter alcohol may be advised to add room temperature sugar syrup to the finished drink. You can make it from 150 gr. sugar and ½ glass of water. It is necessary to add the sweetener little by little, periodically testing the resulting solution.

During the Soviet era, another method of preparing starka at home was common.

Stark tincture

conditions. The following components were taken for the drink:

vodka – 1 l.;
concentrated alcohol infusion of apple and pear leaves - 1 glass;
fructose or sugar syrup – 1–2 tsp;
cognac – 1.5 glasses;
port wine - ½ glass;
vanillin - on the tip of a knife.

Preparing an infusion from the foliage of fruit trees is quite simple. For it they take about 40–50 grams. apple and 20–30 gr. pear leaves, put them in a jar and pour a liter of alcohol diluted to 70%. After a week, the liquid is filtered, after which it can be used to make starka.

All components are mixed in a glass jar or bottle, infused for 5–7 days, and then passed through several filters. After this, the drink will be ready to drink.

As you can see for yourself, it is quite possible to prepare a drink reminiscent of the legendary Starka without prolonged infusion in oak barrels, double distillation of the alcohol base and other difficulties.

Properly selected components with short maturation will help you achieve the same taste and aroma that distinguished the original bitters.

Test date: May 2011

Conclusion based on the test results.

Bitters "Starka" It is bottled in round bottles with a slight thickening at the neck - exactly the same ones, according to our observations, were bottled with Dymka vodka and Onezhskaya vodka. Label "Starkey" rectangular, red and black with yellow elements, which, due to the quality of the material, are perceived as gold; The entire red field is occupied by a pleasant plant pattern. In general, the appearance of the bottle pleases with its cleanliness and neatness - it’s pleasant to pick up. The lid of the bottle of this tincture is metal, screw; There is no dispenser on the bottle.

To begin with, we note that the declared calorie content of this tincture is slightly higher than that of most vodkas. The smell of Stark tinctures quite good, the aroma is really rich and complex, but what stands out, in our opinion, is not the aroma of cognac, but the characteristic smell of Krystlovsky alcohol (inherent in other products of the plant). The taste is pleasant, complex, rich, very slightly sweet; As for the heat, we wouldn’t call Starka particularly hot. The tincture is quite easy and pleasant to drink, overall making a positive impression.

The final rating for the Stark tincture is “excellent.”

Preparation of moonshine and alcohol for personal use
absolutely legal!

After the collapse of the USSR, the new government stopped the fight against moonshine. Criminal liability and fines were abolished, and the article banning the production of alcohol-containing products at home was removed from the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. To this day, there is not a single law that prohibits you and me from engaging in our favorite hobby - preparing alcohol at home. This is evidenced by the Federal Law of July 8, 1999 No. 143-FZ “On the administrative liability of legal entities (organizations) and individual entrepreneurs for offenses in the field of production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products” (Collected Legislation of the Russian Federation, 1999, No. 28 , Art. 3476).

Extract from the Federal Law of the Russian Federation:

“The effect of this Federal Law does not apply to the activities of citizens (individuals) producing products containing ethyl alcohol for purposes other than sale.”

Moonshining in other countries:

In Kazakhstan in accordance with the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Administrative Offenses dated January 30, 2001 N 155, the following liability is provided. Thus, according to Article 335 “Manufacture and sale of home-made alcoholic beverages”, illegal production of moonshine, chacha, mulberry vodka, mash and other alcoholic beverages for the purpose of sale, as well as the sale of these alcoholic beverages, entails a fine in the amount of thirty monthly calculation indices with confiscation of alcoholic beverages , apparatus, raw materials and equipment for their manufacture, as well as money and other valuables received from their sale. However, the law does not prohibit the preparation of alcohol for personal use.

In Ukraine and Belarus things are different. Articles No. 176 and No. 177 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses provide for the imposition of fines in the amount of three to ten tax-free minimum wages for the production and storage of moonshine without the purpose of sale, for the storage of devices* for its production without the purpose of sale.

Article 12.43 repeats this information almost word for word. “Production or acquisition of strong alcoholic beverages (moonshine), semi-finished products for their production (mash), storage of apparatus for their production” in the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses. Clause No. 1 states: “The production by individuals of strong alcoholic drinks (moonshine), semi-finished products for their production (mash), as well as the storage of devices* used for their production - entails a warning or a fine of up to five basic units with confiscation of the specified drinks, semi-finished products and devices."

*You can still purchase moonshine stills for home use, since their second purpose is to distill water and obtain components for natural cosmetics and perfumes.

Starka is an ancient bitters with a high strength, which ranges from 40 to 50 revolutions. The history of such strong alcohol dates back to the 15th century in the Baltic states and Poland. It was used on the occasion of the birth of an heir, grandiose victories over enemies and the conclusion of successful profitable deals.

In the vastness of our homeland, starka gained special recognition only in the 19th century, when the market was flooded with cheap moonshine and higher quality alcohol, sold at an affordable price, could not go unnoticed.

Today, the producers of Stark vodka have abandoned the original recipe, slightly changing the composition, reducing the aging time, and produce a tincture that fairly reliably imitates the taste of the real drink.

In turn, nothing stopped craftsmen from developing their own recipes for preparing Stark’s tincture, which can be easily repeated at home. I invite you to take a closer look at the most popular of them.

Did you know? The rye alcoholic drink got its name from the Polish word “starka”, which means “aging process” or “middle-aged woman”. The fact is that, according to the original production technology, the drink was considered ripe only after it had been aged in oak barrels for 25-50 years.

First version

This method of preparing Starkey is the most popular among experienced winemakers, since the result best imitates the taste of this alcohol. The homemade alcoholic drink resembles something between vodka and vodka, it has a rich dark amber color, a complex aroma and a vigorous, pungent taste.

The strength of this alcohol varies from 34 to 36 revolutions, and the maximum shelf life reaches five years.

List of components

Manufacturing process

Second version

Here we present a more simplified technology for making homemade Starka, which as a result makes it possible to obtain aromatic vodka with a soft, refined taste, in which the aftertaste of fusel oils and alcohol is completely eliminated.

List of components

Manufacturing process

Wash the lemon thoroughly, then wipe it dry and carefully remove the citrus zest, without touching the white pulp.
Cut the zest into thin strips.
Pour oak bark into a separate deep bowl and pour boiling water for 10-15 minutes.
Drain the broth and rinse the bark with cool running water.
Place oak bark, lemon zest, granulated sugar, nutmeg and whole natural coffee beans into a glass bottle.
Fill the components with alcohol, then seal the container with a nylon lid.
We send the resulting mixture to a dark, warm room for approximately 10 days. Once a day, shake the contents of the vessel so that the future drink acquires a beautiful amber hue.
After this period, we subject the liquid to thorough double filtration.
We bottle the alcoholic drink for further storage.
Place the alcohol in a cool place and allow it to mature for 3-4 days.

Third version

The manufacturing technology is almost identical to the previous recipe, but there are differences in the set of components. The finished alcoholic drink resembles aged cognac and has a soft and at the same time strong taste with light hints of citrus.

List of components

Manufacturing process

Wash the lemon thoroughly and cut into thin slices, removing the seeds.
In a deep bowl, pour boiling water over the oak bark and let it steep for 10-15 minutes. Then drain the broth and rinse the ingredient with cool water.
Place the chopped citrus and prepared bark into a glass bottle for tincture.
We also send ground nutmeg, ground coffee, vanillin and granulated sugar there.
Pour all the ingredients into the alcohol base and mix.
We seal the bottle with a tight lid and place it in a cool room.
Let the product sit for at least two weeks, shaking it thoroughly once a day.
We filter the alcohol twice through a gauze and cotton filter.
We can start tasting right away, but it’s better to let the alcohol mature for at least two days.

Fourth version

According to many connoisseurs of quality alcohol, this version of Starkey almost fully complies with factory standards. The drink delights with its bittersweet taste, wonderful complex aroma and rich, beautiful color.

The only drawback of this alcohol is the really long aging, however, I assure you that you will prepare a truly noble drink that will become your pride in winemaking.

List of components

Manufacturing process

Preparation of alcohol infusion

Place pre-washed and dried apple and pear leaves into a glass jar.
Pour in alcohol with a strength of at least 70 rpm.
We seal the jar tightly and leave it in a cool place for at least one week.
Filter the finished infusion through a gauze filter and store it in the refrigerator. To prepare Starky we only need 30 ml of this product.

Preparation of Starkey vodka

In a glass vessel for long-term tincture, mix moonshine, cognac and port.
Add vanillin, fructose and 30 ml of alcohol infusion prepared with apple and pear leaves.
We seal the container hermetically and transfer it to a cool room.
For the first week, shake the contents of the jar daily, at least once a day.
Then we infuse the drink for 10 years in a cellar or any other cool place.
We pass the infused product through a cotton and gauze filter and enjoy the taste of elite alcohol.

Stark vodka recipe video

In order to thoroughly study the method of preparing Stark vodka at home, I suggest watching several interesting recipes presented in the video.

Video No. 1.

Video No. 2.

In this video, a master winemaker will teach you how to prepare an analogue of the Soviet Starka, which has won the hearts of many lovers of strong alcohol. In addition to training, the master will taste the finished drink and share his impressions.

Video No. 3.

After watching this video, you will learn how you can prepare bitters a la Starck at home without long aging.

Useful information

Maybe someone will be interested in information about how you can dilute vodka so that it retains its qualities as much as possible.
It is also very important to know what is the right way to eat vodka in order to fully reveal its advantages and disadvantages.
Still inexperienced moonshiners will need information on how it is possible to purify vodka at home.

Precise adherence to proportions and following the recommendations will help you prepare an alcoholic drink that is as aromatic and tasty as Stark’s original tincture.

Feel free to experiment with the ingredients, but do not forget that the main “secret component” of this product is pear and apple leaves. Share your own Starkey recipes and be sure to let us know why they are so special. Good luck with your winemaking!